Closure frame member



Jan. 17, 1939. E. R. @UNTER v i I l 2,144,496

` CIfQSURE FRAME MEMBER l v Filed May 9v, -1958 'l mmillll v (gu/vanto@ 2522 Zara,

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE W. H. Klauer,

Dubuque, Iowa Application May 9, 1938, Serial No. `206,895

4 Claims.

This invention relates to closure frames and in particular to the provision of a top or head closure frame member incorporating various improvements over prior known constructions.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a frame member which is adapted for close association with the top of a door or window aperture and for cooperation with other connected closure frame members for supporting a member such as a window or door.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, in such a top member or section, groove or .gutter means offset from a horizontal surface of the member for the collection and drainage of water entering 4between the top frame member or section and adjacent portions of the building aperture as Well as the condensation and collection of moisture between the member or section and the adjacent surfaces.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such means which will provide ventilation lfor the purpose of aiding drying of adjacent building wall portions.

It is a further lobject of this invention to provide such means whereby additional strength and rigidity of the top frame member or section is secured.

It is a further object of this invention to provide suitably spaced drainage aperture means, in association with the groove or gutter means, for carrying off water or moisture from air space lprovided by the groove or gutter means between the frame member or section and the adjacent wall surface, while at the same time providing for adequate ventilation of the provided air space.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the top or head closure frame member or section of this invention partly broken away in the interest of clearness of disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the top section member shown in Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a-section taken on the lin-e 4-4 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the position of the top frame member with respect to an adjacent portion of a building wall.

Referring to the drawing in detail and with reference particularly to Fig. 1, wherein I have (Cl. 18S-46) shown the application of the principles of this invention to the top` member or section of a window frame such as that described and claimed ln Letters Patent 1,936,513, granted November 21, 1933, to W. H. Klauer, the top member or section is generally designated I. The top member I is adapted for detachable connection to side members 2 in a Imanner hereinafter more clearly described. The member or section I is adapted also for attachment to the portion 4 of the building: wall above `an aperture as shown in Fig. 4.

The member I is provided with a vertical flange portion 5 adapted for association `with the outer vertical wall'surface adjacent the closure aperture,

and extending inwardly from this is a horizontal flange portion 6 adapted for association with the horizontal surface at the top of Ithe aperture. As shown in the drawing, the flange portion 6 is bent back upon itself to form a substantially vertical flange l which is, of course, optional. The inner edge of the flange portion 5 is bent back upon itself at 8 to form an inner beaded edge surface. Formed in the flange portion 5 adjac-ent its forward side, from which extends the vertical ange portion 5, is the groove or gutter 9, having e its upper surface disposed below the plane of the upper surface of the flange portion 6 and provided with inclined upper side wall surfaces IE! and like end wall surfaces I I.

Suitable drainage apertures I2 are provided at spaced intervals in the horizontal wall of the groove or gutter 9 for providing ventilation and drainage of moisture collected in the space between the gutter -9 and the adjacent surface of the building wall portion 4.

The flange portion 5 extends outwardly at each end beyond the side edge of the flange portion 6 for the accommodation of integral `bent up ears having vertical portions I4 and horizontal portions I5 with slots I5 at the intersection of these horizontal and vertical portions. These slots I6 are adapted to receive end portions or lugs I'I which extend upwardly from the top ends of the side frame members or sections 2.

The portion Il is co-planar with and integral with the portion I8 0f each member 2 and cheeks or side surfaces I9 extend from the portions I8 substantially perpendicularly and terminate in the bent over or beaded portion 20 at the inner inclined edge of each cheek portion I9. The cheek portions I9, as shown in Fig. 1, are provided with flanges 2| formed by bending the cheek portions I9 over upon themselves and these flanges 2|, which are optional, are adapted for disposition in the same plane as the flange 1 and have their In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,V

the struck out nature of the groove or lgutter 9 materially increases the rigidity of the flange portion 6, while at the same time providing a transverse horizontally disposed 'air space between a portion of the flange Gand the adjacent wall surface, and as this air space communicates through apertures I2 to the atmosphere, any

`water or moisturev entering between the member I and the wall member 4 will collect in the channel, groove or gutter formed by the member whence it may escape, throughthe drain aperture I2, to the atmosphere. Likewise, moisture will drain from the wallrportion'll to the groove or gutter and escape in like manner. Due to the provision of inclined side and end walls II) and II, the moisture'will be directed to the drain apertures I2 to achieve the utmost Veiiciency of drainage, while at thesame time the apertures I2 provide for ventilation of the air space formed by the groove or gutten'thus to increase the rate of evaporation of moisture from the wall portion as well as between this wall portion and the member I.

While the member I has been shown in its relation to window aperture side frame members 2, it is, of course, to be understood that door aperture side frame members may be attached to the member I in the manner described with achievement of all of the above enumerated advantages through the groove or gutter means 9 of thev `member I,

In the use of closure frame constructions of the typeVV described above, it is impossible at all times to maintain a close, moistureproof, sealing engagement of the exterior vertical flange; such as 5, with the adjacent wall surfaces due to the diverse expansion and contraction of wall and frame members under extreme changes in ,ternperature and/ or humidity to which they are subjected by eXtreme changes in weather conditions.

The unpreventable entrance of rain, sleet and the like between the exteriorrflange ofthe top frame member and the adjacent wall surface of prior constructions was followed by collection thereof between the frame member and theadjacent wall surface.

Likewise, moisture in the wall gradually collected at the same location with resultant damage to the metallic frame member by reason of rusting and, in extreme cases, by escape of the moisture or water to the `interior side of the'frame member and into the enclosure. Y

As most clearlyappears, from the` above description, all of these disadvantages are totally obviated while the structural strength and rigidity of the top frame member is, at the same time, materially enhanced by reason of the crenelated nature of the groove 9.

It will be seen that the provision of the groove or gutter means 9 with its draining and ventilating apertures I2 in addition to increasing the rigidity and strength of the member I also provides for condensation of moisture between the member I vand the adjacent wall portion 4, while at the same time increasing evaporation of moisture from the wall portion 4 and collection of all moisture between the members I and 4 and the direction thereof through the drain apertures I2 to the atmosphere.

It is, of course,l to be understood that the above described structure is merely illustrative and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend all modifications included within the scope of the appended claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: Y

l.` In a closure frame member attachable tothe top of a wall aperturea vertical flange portion engageable with a vertical wall surface, a horizontal flange portion extending from said rst flange portion andV engageable with a horizontal apertured surface, and moisture collecting means integralwith said horizontal flange portion comprising a downwardly offset apertured channel formed integrally in said flange portion and pro- Y viding moisture collecting and draining means while increasing the strength of said closure frame member.

2. As an articlerof manufacturefor use as a' closure ange top section, a structuralV member having a vertical wall engaging flange portion, a horizontal flange portion, and offset apertured groove meansV formed in said-'horizontal flanged portion adjacent the vertical wall engaging flange portion.V Y Y v 3. As an article of manufacture for useY as a closure frame top section, a structural memberY having vertical wallengaging flange means, horizontal wall engaging flange means extending from said Vvertical wall engaging and integral therewith, and apertured groove means in said last named flange means forming an air space between said flange means and an engaged wall surface for moisture collection and drainage and wall surface for moisture collection and drainage and ventilation of wall portions adjacent the Vsurfaces engaged by said vertical and horizontal flange means, said apertured groove means impartingadded rigidity to said horizontal wall engaging flange means. Y

EDWARD R. GNTER. 

